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Microsoft Releases Global Survey Revealing Widespread Belief In Developing And Developed Nations That Personal Technology Is Transforming Lives For The Better

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A new global survey of Internet users conducted by Microsoft Corp. reveals distinct regional findings and differing viewpoints between the developed and developing world. However, overwhelmingly the more than 10,000 people surveyed from 10 nations said they embrace personal technology, particularly in emerging markets, and see it as the foundation of innovation and economic empowerment.

Microsoft unveiled the results of its new survey today at the World Economic Forum in
Davos, Switzerland, in the report titled, "Views from Around the Globe: How Personal Technology is Changing Our Lives."

"Whether you live in a world capital or a remote village, personal technology is seen as empowering and as a vehicle to individual economic growth," Penn said. "Despite varying rates of personal technology adoption and cultural differences, there is an overwhelming sense globally that improvements are being experienced across the board."

Among the key findings of the study are these:

A majority of the people surveyed around the world believe that personal technology has the most positive impact on innovation in business and empowering people to start a new business.

In Brazil, people say that personal technology had a strong impact on arts and culture.

In China and India, they say their quality of life has improved due to personal technology.

Although personal technology was seen overwhelmingly as a positive force in both developed and developing countries, there were concerns that focused on personal safety and security, family bonds, and, most significantly, privacy. Interestingly, the survey found that the developing countries are more willing to trade privacy for security. Despite privacy concerns, however, nearly three-quarters of parents around the world want their children to have more, not less, access to personal technology. This is particularly true in developing countries, where parents are especially supportive of increased access to technology. Opinions are mixed in developed countries, where more parents feel there should be limits to technology access.